Steps to Foster Parenting

There is a great need nationwide for foster families. To begin foster parenting, you must first attend an informational meeting hosted by CPS or private agency. After this, an agency must be selected and application submitted. Agencies generally invite prospective foster parents in for an interview and to answer any questions they may have. A background check will be completed, and training scheduled if you are accepted into the foster parent program.

Training varies from agency to agency, although it is generally provided at no cost to the foster parents. After or during training, a home study must be written for each family. This is a detailed document about your background, childhood, current lifestyle, education, parenting, children, extended family, beliefs and almost any other personal aspect of your life. This document gives the agency the information they need to decide if your home would be appropriate for foster children, and may be used if you later decide to adopt.

Homes can become licensed to foster only or foster-to-adopt. The licensing process is generally the same, but agencies may consider a parent’s desire to adopt when placing children. For instance; if two homes are available to accept a child (and this child will most likely be available for adoption), the home wishing to adopt will be given preference over the other foster home. Foster parents can choose the age range they wish to foster parent and may be as specific as “girls ages 2-5 and boys under 3, only hispanic children, etc”. Families hoping to adopt through the foster care system may wish to foster only children who meet their personal desires for adoption, such as those having the same ethnicity or only a certain gender.

Homes may be licensed for basic or therapeutic level children. Basic care children may have ADHD, asthma, hearing loss, developmental delays, and other special needs that would be described as “mild to moderate”. Children with more acute health issues, anger management issues, or those unable to function in a home with other children may require the specialized homes provided by therapeutic foster parents, and in some cases group homes.